Catalans prepare to defy Madrid in banned independence vote

“We don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. We are going to try to vote in the only way we know, which is peacefully.”

BARCELONA, Sept 30 (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Catalans are expected to defy Spanish authorities and attempt to vote in a banned independence referendum on Sunday, raising fears of unrest in the wealthy northeastern region.

The referendum, declared illegal by Spain’s central government, has thrown the country into its worst constitutional crisis in decades and raised fears of street violence as a test of will between Madrid and Barcelona plays out.